Festival with me and two DCs

[drspouse]

I am completely bonkers, I know - DH doesn't want to camp though it's a fairly small festival we've been to pre-DCs and with DS when he was small. He might be persuaded to stay in a B&B nearby.
We are camping with/near some other families who should hopefully amuse DD as she always latches on to other families when camping (and I will know these ones and know she's not intruding).
DS has SEN and it's a bit hit and miss whether he will talk to other children but
We have a tent with two bedrooms and a porch so I think we are OK for tents. We are camping near a family with a good selection of cooking kit so will use some of theirs, and near another family with DCs near ours in age, plus various adult friends, including DS' godmother (though she's not exactly hands on!).
DS and DD are both at least good and enthusiastic campers (Scouting etc.).

I'm just wondering what I've forgotten. We don't go till the end of the school holidays (so it may be cold at night, I remember that part) but are away on holiday in between so I'll need to think now about Stuff.

The festival has a buddy scheme if you are with someone with a disability (but they won't watch your child if you are out of sight - they say it's "to allow you to queue" but DS would probably rather stand with me in a queue and kick off that it's taking ages than stand nearby waiting with someone else.

Anyway, hit me with Stuff I've Forgotten!

I've done similar before - festival with just me and 2 young DC but friends in tents next door. In April with a hail storm and sub zero nights! It was fine!

I took a lidded jug to use as a tent toilet overnight so I wouldn't have to leave DC alone/wake them up to drag them to the loos.

My other tips are:

More blankets, warm layers and socks than you think you'll need.

Plenty of books, pens and paper, card games etc for the tent plus a ball or something for outside (if there's likely to be enough space to use it).

Easy/instant snack/breakfast stuff like cereal bars for when they wake up STAAAAARVING

Spare torches, lanterns and batteries.

Make sure DC can recognise festival security/stewards in case they get lost/need help. Have a designated meeting point. Put a flag or similar on your tent or point out memorable ones nearby so they can always find their way back.

Have fun!

Oh those are all great points. I was thinking "ooh, lovely camp cooked breakfasts" but you are right that it will be MUCH easier just to have something to grab.
I am going to order some solar fairy lights and (possibly make if I have time) bunting, and one of the adults we are camping with usually brings a flag. I will order more lanterns, and the DCs have firm opinions about the type of torch they want so I will involve them in that (DD loves her head torch, DS not so much).

DS is OK with pretty much everything camping-wise except tends to refuse to put on waterproof trousers/forget/decide not to put on wellies and then moans he's wet. I am going to make him practice wearing waterproof trousers before we go. Other warming-up stuff is OK except maybe gloves (he's tricky with those).

DS does not have a phone but I may borrow or beg a dumb phone so he can text me. I gather there is not only a Lost Children's area but also a Chill tent (for tea and chat, not post-rave) so we will make one of those our meeting space, and I'll put my phone number on various of their objects.

When we have camped on a larger campsite before I just go to the loo without them and they don't wake up (of course THEY wake ME if they need the loo!) and it's a family festival plus we'll be right next to friends' tents so I'll just go to the loo I think.

Are you allowed a flag? Put one by your tent and move it around with you during the day.

Some festivals don't allow them but they are quite useful if you go to the loo than want to find your gang again - depends on the size of the festival.

We are allowed - as above one of the friends we are camping with usually brings one.

Oh another question I've thought of.
DS doesn't like loud noises (though he likes rock music 🙄) but ear defenders are really stiff and uncomfortable. I am not sure he'd take to ear plugs either. Has anyone got any related ideas?

Fifteen pints of lager?

Maybe not quite that many!

He's 10...

Oops - sorry - didn't notice that.

Further questions!
I have a trangia. Should I instead or as well get a handbag stove (like the Camping Gaz Bistro)? Where can you get the canisters?
What's a decent set of pans? I'd rather have 2 that will do pasta for 3 and milk for hot chocolate after, than 10 that are the size of a teacup.

Good for you for taking them without DH, it'd be a shame for them to miss out on the opportunity!
If you have an iphone, you can get airtags and slip into your DCs pockets - useful to tell you when they're running off and for finding them after ;-) We also use one for our trailer. Also you can write your number on their hands in sharpie.
Hot water bottles if it's looking cold at night, makes getting into bed feel snuggly (as do fairy lights in the tent).
Decathlon has good camping pan sets.
Lots of biodegradeable wet wipes instead of showers. Portable toddler potty to avoid loo trips to horrible festival loos for yourself as well as the little ones!
Woolly hats pulled down over eyes can give you a bit of extra sleeping time in the mornings. Maybe add ear muffs or padding to protect from sound?
When we camp, we cook. When we go to festivals, we look for ease in the mornings! Instant porridge, cereal, snack bars, fruit. Often there are no good washing up facilities which makes everything a bit tougher. Worth getting a small Gorilla tub trug for throwing washing up into / carting washing up water around.
Have fun!

Instant porridge! They love porridge thank goodness.